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When a parent can get a cancer screening without worrying about the cost, when a child can see a doctor close to home, or when someone is ready to start treatment for substance use disorder, health coverage can change the course of a life.

Those moments happen every day in Jackson County through Medicaid.

Jackson Care Connect (JCC), part of the CareOregon family of companies, covers roughly 67,000 people through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), Oregon's Medicaid program. That's about one in three Jackson County residents — meaning most people in the community know someone who counts on JCC for health coverage.

JCC members are friends, neighbors, coworkers and classmates. They are working adults, children, older adults and families who might otherwise struggle to access health care because of the high cost of coverage or other barriers.

But JCC's impact extends beyond just its members. By investing in local partnerships, supporting providers and helping people access care earlier, JCC helps strengthen the health care system, workforce and social safety net that all Jackson County residents rely on.

“Everyone in Jackson County knows someone covered by JCC,” said JCC Medical Director Leona O'Keefe, MD. “Our members are your coworkers, friends, neighbors, the person who cuts your hair and the kid who sits next to your child in class.”

Community reach with community impact

Health coverage affects more than individual health.

When people can access preventive care, primary care and treatment for chronic conditions, they're more likely to stay healthy and avoid serious health problems that can require expensive emergency care. Coverage also helps people maintain their jobs, attend school, care for family members and participate in community life.

“Medicaid is really important because it gives people who are usually worried about just making ends meet the capacity to have screenings done for free,” said Jamie Osborn, MD, Population Health Officer at La Clinica. “Otherwise, they're going to put food in their children's mouths and shoes on their kids' feet before they get a mammogram.”

La Clinica, a Federally Qualified Health Center and longtime JCC partner, served about 32,600 patients in Jackson County in 2025. More than half of its patients are covered by OHP, and about 10 percent are uninsured.

“We help people connect to resources for improved health — not just direct health care needs but also other things that impact their health,” said O'Keefe, citing assistance with food, transportation and housing as examples.

“That, in turn, improves rates of employment, housing and education, while also decreasing expensive rates of hospitalization and emergency department use,” she added.

Those connections help people navigate challenges before they become crises while strengthening community well-being overall.

Local solutions for local needs

Improving member and community health starts with understanding local needs.

Because JCC is deeply rooted in Jackson County, it works closely with health care providers, public health leaders, nonprofit organizations and community members themselves to identify emerging needs and find local solutions.

That local perspective has helped shape investments in mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, chronic disease management, pediatric care and other priorities identified by the community.

JCC also supports fellow nonprofits, like ACCESS, on the front lines working to address food insecurity, housing instability and related challenges. The result is a stronger health care system and social safety net for all residents.

“As a nonprofit, we reinvest in the community,” said O'Keefe. “We don’t keep profits, give them to shareholders or send them out of state.”

“We’re staffed by local community members. We live here and want to improve the lives of our friends, families and community members,” she added.

Bringing new models of care to Jackson County

One example of that community-centered approach is Birch Grove Health Center in Medford.

Today, people experiencing substance use disorder, mental health challenges and chronic illnesses can access multiple services in one location thanks to a partnership among JCC, La Clinica, Jackson County and other local organizations.

Since opening in 2013, Birch Grove has provided integrated care that combines primary care, counseling and same-day access to medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder. Community partners are also embedded on-site to offer wrap-around support.

By helping people access timely treatment and ongoing care, Birch Grove has helped reduce avoidable emergency department utilization and related costs. The clinic has an 85 percent patient engagement rate, meaning most patients continue participating in treatment and follow-up care.

“At Birch Grove, we are saving lives and turning lives around,” said Osborn. “We can say to people, ‘Here’s a way out of the desperate situation you are in.’”

JCC has also partnered with Mercy Flights, a Southern-Oregon based nonprofit ambulance service and air medical provider, on groundbreaking pilot programs that improve access to care while helping ease pressure on local hospitals and emergency response systems.

“These programs help decompress the overwhelmed systems by getting people to the right place at the right time,” said Janet Holland, JCC Director of Regional Operations.

Keeping kids healthy

Improving access to pediatric care has been another top priority. For years, families in Rogue River often had to travel to Medford or Grants Pass for routine medical care. JCC and La Clinica worked alongside school leaders and community partners to change that.

In September 2025, the community celebrated the grand opening of a new center that houses Southern Oregon Head Start’s expanded preschool program and La Clinica’s Rogue River Health Center.

Today, children can access well-child visits, screenings, vaccinations and other routine care closer to where they live and learn.

“The Rogue River community has historically struggled with access to health care, which has impacted health outcomes compared to other parts of the county,” explained Holland.

The project demonstrates how local partnerships can create lasting solutions that strengthen both individual and community health.

Supporting the people who provide care

Like many rural regions, Southern Oregon faces ongoing provider shortages. Longer wait times and fewer available appointments affect everyone, regardless of insurance type or status. To help address that challenge, JCC has invested in efforts to recruit, train and retain providers in the region.

In 2024, JCC joined with the Southern Oregon Alliance of Physician Partners to launch the Southern Oregon Medical Society. The organization offers continuing education opportunities led by local experts while helping providers build professional connections.

Turnout has been strong, with as many as 100 providers attending sessions focused on topics such as obesity and opioid use disorder.

“Recruiting providers to Southern Oregon can be challenging,” said O'Keefe. “Many people aren’t familiar with the region and all the wonderful things available to us here.”

The work is making a difference one provider at a time.

“One new primary care provider anywhere in our region is a benefit to everyone,” said O’Keefe.

Building a healthier Jackson County

Over the past decade, Jackson County has faced major challenges, including wildfires, the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce shortages and growing pressures on the health care system.

Through those challenges, JCC has helped bring together providers, nonprofits, public agencies and community members to find solutions tailored to local needs.

Whether it's helping a child access care close to home, supporting a person in recovery, strengthening the provider workforce or connecting families with resources that improve health, JCC's work reaches far beyond any single insurance card.

It helps build a healthier, stronger and more resilient Jackson County for everyone.

Read the JCC 2025 Report to the Community to learn more about its work to improve community health and support the people who care for members every day.

Our “Medicaid Matters” series highlights the value of Medicaid in the CareOregon community and beyond. Through these stories, we show how Medicaid is a lifeline for thousands of Oregonians, and why it matters to the health and well-being of families, individuals, and communities. As a leading provider of Medicaid coverage, we remain committed to amplifying the message that Medicaid is essential to health equity.